"I never thought that I would come here, but everything is almost too perfect. " At the 6th China International Consumer Products Expo - also known as the Hainan Expo, Ana Vassallo, Senior Key Account Manager of jewelry brand Coeur de Lion, could hardly hide her excitement. This marks the brand's first public appearance in China and also in Asia.

According to Vassallo, Coeur de Lion has been deeply involved in the travel retail industry for many years and has built an excellent reputation in Europe. Participating in the Hainan Expo is a strategic decision to tap into the China and wider Asia markets. "In my company, we really see the potential in the region with Chinese customers, also with Chinese retailers. I think that this is the start of something really amazing for our brand here in China."

At the Hainan Expo, Coeur de Lion attracted lots of attention, including from several companies interested in the brand. The brand has already held preliminary discussions with a number of interested retailers interested in establishing long-term relationships. Ana Vassallo happily noted, "We are open to testing our products here in this market. So far we are really happy about the results of the Hainan Expo and how easy everything has been."

Although Vassallo had learned about Hainan's size and development online beforehand, her actual experience—immersing herself in the local culture, and especially learning about the tourism market, shopping malls, and infrastructure—has been completely different. "I was quite surprised by the size of the island. Different brands are already established here. It seems that it's a resort area. I really feel like it'sthriving and attracting businesses and tourists from outside China."

Regarding the Chinese market, Vassallo admitted that the brand is just beginning to understand it. "We saw some reactions of the retailers and customers coming to our booth. So we are really excited and it’s very positive, we see it like a big opportunity for growth. Although we are based in Germany and it's a different consumer profile, I think that the more we come and the more we have these interactions, the more we will be able to adapt and to create from products that are tailored to them and that they like."

Speaking of the openness of the Hainan Free Trade Port, Vassallo believes that the fact that the Hainan Expo is held here itself proves the island's importance. "Hainan shows you all the different companies that are interested in doing business, so there is a very positive business climate here. I see it as a place that is becoming more and more important, not only locally or within China, but also internationally." She added that the island province was well suited to serve as a starting point for companies interested in entering the local market.

This series is funded by the China Internet Development Foundation (CIDF) and co-producted by Hinews and Hainan International Media Center.